The Ralph Bates Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund

About Ralph Bates

Any fan of Hammer Horror from the early 1970s will know the familiar site of the raven-haired, pale-faced, and handsomely sinister figure of Ralph Bates cutting his way elegantly through the fog-shrouded streets of London in Doctor Jekyll and Sister Hyde, or the violently demonic Ralph Bates as the frenzied conjurer of Dracula in Taste the Blood of Dracula. He might be best known as the young Victor Frankenstein in Hammer’s Horror of Frankenstein, in which he campily portrayed the obsessed doctor with all the venom and vice and coxcombry he could muster.

Hammer’s Prince of Gothic Horror, Bates portrayed two of the most classic Gothic anti-heroes –Doctor Jekyll and Doctor Victor Frankenstein. He was an actor who unfortunately never gained his deserved cult status (such as Chris Lee or Peter Cushing) as one of the most talented and entertaining actors of the 1970s. He seemed poised on the edge of gothic horror stardom, and was groomed for replacing the great Lee and Cushing, but Hammer’s unfortunate demise was close at hand. But I believe Ralph Bates now deserves to be recognized after all these years for his truly unique and stunning contribution to the Hammer Film Empire. With many of his starring Hammer roles now being released on DVD, like his unforgettable and chilling performance in “Doctor Jekyll and Sister Hyde”, I hope Ralph Bates finally takes his place deservedly as a glittering jewel in the crown of male Hammer horror Stars.

Along with Shane Briant and Ingrid Pitt, Ralph Bates was one of Hammer’s brilliant newcomers. He brought a refreshingly new and striking presence to the screen for Hammer. His darkly handsome yet satanic good looks, his long and stubbornly straight raven-black hair, his contemptuous confidence and sarcastic wit, and his ability to reflect vulnerability and deep suffering have all made Ralph Bates a truly unique and powerful screen presence. Ralph Bates was born in 1940 in Bristol, England. He attended the University of Dublin and Yale Drama School briefly before making his appearance

Dear John

on the BBC as Caligula in the series The Caesars in 1968. After his noteworthy string of Hammer films was over, Bates would work for the BBC once again, most notably in the dramatic 18th-century period piece Poldark from 1977 to 1978. His character George Warleggan was a distinctive and hated villain of classic charisma. He even managed to steal away Poldark’s true love with his dark charm! But Bates was also able to invest his character with a neurotic pathos and seething energy which made his scheming machinations in the series some of the most memorable and explosive. Indeed, Poldark 2 focused more and more on Warleggan’s psychosis, and Bates’ increased screen time developed the intensity of the show.

After starring in two series of the BBC’s popular comedy Dear John, in which he played a divorcee returning to single life, Bates became ill with pancreatic cancer.  He died on 27 March 1991, at the age of 50.

Reproduced with kind permission from Monica of the Ralph Bates Shrine